Having just completed my first full dio (see “Series of Firsts” in this forum) I can say that I’m completely hooked on the smaller scale aspect of the hobby. Endless possibilities for creativity.

During that project, I read Lions of Kandahar – and from that book came inspiration for my next build. The non-fiction book tells the account of Special Forces ODA 331 and its role in Operation Medusa (Afghanistan) during August and September of 2006. The initial role was to establish blocking positions so that the Taliban could not escape the main Canadian assault. However, the Canadians were repelled and it was up to elements of ODA 331 to relieve them by capturing Sperwan Ghar – the tallest hill on the battlefield. From that vantage point, they could provide direct relief as well as call in air strikes. To maintain control of the hill, ODA 331 had to clear Objective Rugby – a small schoolhouse and adjacent hillside redoubt that the Taliban had converted into a training compound. It is Objective Rugby that became the focal point for this project.

After gaining Sperwan Ghar, a couple of SF troops, a Humvee gun truck and several Afghan National soldiers conducted a second assault on the school. Their role was to clear the school for a second time so that the Taliban couldn’t reoccupy the position and split the coalition forces.

So with the scene set and my imagination in overdrive, I’ll get to work. This time however, I’d like to do a build log so that I can implement all the real-time advice and comments you all have to offer. Never knew sharing was so fun.

I’m working on a quick mock-up of the school to establish the size of the dio, and I’m doing some research for the build as well. I’ll post the first progress pictures shortly.

Here are a couple of pictures of the mocked-up school. Used cardboard, tape and the occasional pin from the wifey’s sewing kit –so excuse the crude nature. Never mind “Jerry” he is just for scale.

According to the text, the school was single story and had a long hallway with four small classrooms along each side. I’m only modeling a small piece in order to keep the scene tight.

A couple of questions for you all. I want the dio to be visible from the back of the school. Many options to fill the room(s) with Taliban materiel – perhaps some Soviet era ammo crates, RPG’s, foodstuffs, desks etc. To accomplish that I only show about a quarter of the building’s roof. Artistically, is there a better way to approach that?

The window I’m planning is a fairly common feature in Afghanistan, but I’m unsure about doors. The school is a relatively modern UNICEF-built school, so I guess Western looking doors could work. Thoughts?

Jim: do you intend to have figures inside the building, or just stuff? I think that will inform how to handle the back of the building. My own tendancy would be to chop it at an angle and do a full roof, just not make it so deep that you can't see inside. but if you are putting figures inside the building, then it will probably need to be deeper. I look forward to seeing this progress and I'll have to order the book.

I had some time over the holidays to build the school, lay out the dimensions of the scene and figure out the general placement of the various elements. I built the school using 3/16 foam board, balsa wood and some leftover Plastruct pieces. Thinned plaster is next.

Zon, thanks for the earlier feedback. I wound up placing the school at an angle on the base – not a big fan of everything being squared up. I used your suggestion of chopping the roof at an angle while still keeping the depth of the rooms intact. It is hard to tell in the last picture, but there are doors leading off from the center corridor. I wanted to keep the illusion of classrooms off the hallway intact. I still go back and forth on building a full roof?

For the kits, I plan on using Tamiya’s m1025 Humvee and converting it using Legend’s Special Forces GMV kit. Not really excited about the price of the conversion kit though. I also plan on using Trumpeter’s US Army in Iraq kit as the base models for the figures and converting from there. Can anyone speak to the quality of Trumpeter’s kits?

After 4 long years (kids, work, life etc.) I finally made my way back to the bench and picked up where I left off with this dio. Didn’t realize how much I missed the hobby.

Anyway, I’ve been working on it again for a couple of weeks and thought I’d share a few progress shots.

I have a few more Special Forces guys on foot to rough in and I want to scratch a couple of baddies either fleeing the school out the rear or already tango uniform. Also have plans for a UNICEF-built well in the scene.

As always comments and suggestions are appreciated - especially at this stage of the build.

Welcome back Jim! I think I'm still the slowest builder here, but your four year absence is longer than my 7 months gap this past year, so I give big props for getting back to the bench. Or desk, or table...wherever you model. It's looking pretty good so far sir. Following this one because I like the premise.

Not normally a fan of the modern era stuff, although Stick and a couple others keep my interest growing for it. Your doing a great job setting the scene. I think you should do the full roof section personally.

Jim: welcome back into the fold. I'm also getting back at it after a two year break.

The dio is coming along well. The battle damage to the building is superb and it seems the gun truck and figures are looking good. I have to agree with Dave on the roof and apologize for the lack of clarity in my original comment. I did not intend that the roof be cut at a different angle than the building, but that the roof and building be cut, together, at an angle as compared to the initial mock up. Sorry for not being more clear before. Anyway, this is shaping up to be a great dio, regardless if you "fix" the roof or leave it. Your choice, your scene

Thanks for the advice. I may have backed myself into a corner (pun intended) if I try and extend the roof. See below. To keep the roof from overhanging the base, it will have to be at a wonky angle. I have to admit, though, the larger roof opens up some possibilities. Thoughts?

Looks like you're build is back in action - and I concur with Zon about that front wall - it looks very good.

As for the roof, the build might look more complete if you fill it out - or not. It looks like your using 1/8" bass or balsa wood. You could sandwich together an extra sheet or two and be good to go. As for the angle - it already looks like you know your way around with your trusted Xacto knife...I'll bet you could scribe a desired cut line and trim it to fit - The "or not" option might work if you damage the upper portions of the exposed walls, suggesting they were hit, and the roof collapsed -

Or, just leave it alone for a while and see what you think when it's further along!

The build looks great - looking forward to seeing what you do with it!

After a bit of a hiatus, I am ready to start a new project and realized I never posted final pictures of this one. As with all of these labors of love, there are things I think I did well and others, not so good. Anyway, I hope you all enjoy.

Nicely done! I'm not sure how I missed this one, other than the fact I was gone most of 2016 and 2017.

I've actually spent time in Afghan schools. At one point we had to throw down against dudes loyal to Hekmatyar who had a serious problem with girls attending school. Later, we volunteered to staple bisquine over the windows as winter was approaching and they had no glass. Some of us took the opportunity to pass out supplies sent to us from the states through various churches. At the time, this was primarily an SF thing, not an Army thing. Our chaplain believed very strongly in the whole "hearts and minds" thing. A lot of the supplies came from my mom'm church in Kinderhook, NY. Sadly, a missionary from that same church named Tom Little was killed in Afghanistan in 2010.

Your school is very reminiscent of an Afghan school. This is me handing out supplies in one:

You captured the feel of those benches well. There were a few basic styles, but they were all two seaters similar to the one you've built. Unfortunately the best shot I have actually comes from me in an Iraqi school, not an Afghan one:

My thought when looking at your dio was "Where's the rooftop MG?" Of course you nailed it on the last post. The only thing I'd add is a lot more trash up there. And for the interior, you have a wooden box for AK ammo. Instead of US ammo cans you'd see the long metal Russian style.

And the books would more than likely have been burned. If not, they'd be the little soft covered "primers" like in the photos.

Thanks for the photos and comments. I wish you were around at the start of this project. I would have been a bit more accurate to say the least. I'll look you up before I venture into another modern era dio. Back to WWII for the next one.